LOS ANGELES, CA - What can we expect the world of retail to look like five, 10, even 20 years from now? Looking to the future of grocery, Whole Foods Market Chief Executive Officer Jason Buechel recently explored the evolving food retail landscape and workforce during two panels at the 2024 Milken Institute Global Conference.

“We feel responsibility as a company to take a look at how we can find ways to protect our environment and support our food systems for future generations,” Buechel shared during a The Future of Food Retail panel. “Whole Foods started with climate-friendly agriculture; organics have been a part of the company from the beginning. We are pushing other levers like regenerative and continue to lead the number of items that we are carrying in this space and bringing the first exclusive brand of products in this area as well.”

The Whole Foods CEO also highlighted the chain’s ambitious goal to have 30 stores a year in the pipeline, including new formats like Daily Shop.

During The Future of Food Retail, Buechel was joined by Nancy Dalton, Amazon Access External Affairs, Marketing and Social Impact at Amazon; Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO of The Kroger Co.; and Leslie Sarasin, President and CEO of The Food Industry Association.

In addition, Buechel spoke alongside industry leaders like Debbie Dyson, CEO of OneTen; Lisa Gevelber, Founder and Head of Grow with Google; and Igor Tulchinsky, Chairman and CEO of WorldQuant for a conversation titled Visions for the Future: Leaders Shaping Tomorrow’s Workforce. 

As a press release recalled, the panel explored critical issues facing today’s workforce, including digital transformation, talent development strategies, and adapting to the changing nature of work.

“For us, our team members are the life blood, they are the secret sauce of Whole Foods Market,” added Buechel. “If we put the right focus on making sure we can develop our Team Members to ensure they have the skills and experiences to best serve our customers, we help can create win-win outcomes. This is providing our Team Members with developing skills they can have for life.”

As the retail industry continues to evolve, ANUK will be here to report.